Went from having an Emperor to an Empress with the Empress Dowager Cixi
Economic
European commercial presence in China was restricted in 1759 (Chinese authorities controlled European merchants and the terms of trade)
Cohongs: (Specially licensed Chinese firms) Bought and sold goods at set prices and operated under strict regulations established by the government
East India Company began to sell Opium for Chinese silver coin
Opium trade expanded rapidly because it was addicting
Opium sales were illegal and caused economic problems in China mainly because it drained all of their silver
Taiping Rebellion resulted in massive declines in agricultural production
Money wasted on lavish accessories for empress instead of military success
Religious
Many continuities.
Buddhism and Confucianism were still the main belief systems
Social
Taiping Reform contained many radical features that appealed to discontented subjects- prohibition of footbinding and concubinage, abolition of private property, creation of communcal wealth to be shared according to needs, free public education, etc... but most importantly equality for men and women (this was not achieved since the Taiping Reform failed)
Taiping Rebellion ended up claiming 20-30 million lives
Intellectual
Though very intellectual, CHina has shown it has declined intellectually throughtout the years
(Technology)
Built modern shipyards and constructed railroads
Established weapons industries and opened steel foundries with blast furnaces
Founded academies to develop scientific expertise
Near Geographic
Several treaties released Korea, Vietnam, and Burma from Chinese control
The Yangzi and Yellow River valleys werre used by British forces during the Opium War
China, 1750-1914
Political
Economic
Religious
Social
Intellectual
(Technology)
Near Geographic